After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 52

Cooking was never my forte. My culinary repertoire consisted of exactly one dish: carbonara. Simple enough to be foolproof - or so I'd always thought.

Yet today, each attempt was an abject failure. Overcooked pasta, curdled sauce - as if the kitchen itself was rejecting my efforts.

I ate each failed attempt myself.

The clock ticked mercilessly as I mentally counted down.

I imagined Luke would arrive, we'd have his birthday dinner, and then I'd vanish from his life. Like waiting for an execution.

But he never showed.

Instead, came a phone call dripping with transparent deceit. "Mandy cut her finger while cooking," he said with exaggerated concern, "had to take her to the ER. Don't wait up."

The casual cruelty of his lies was almost comical in its absurdity.

main social media, my alternate account revealed the truth: a fresh post showing them celebrating, wrapped around each other before an elaborate birthday cake, their staged laughter captured perfectly amid scattered

there?" Luke's impatient voice cut through

into my tone. "It's fine, don't worry about it." Another lie to add to

his post from my burner account, then dumped the carbonara into

I was just another completed chapter in Luke's story. Fine. I'd release him

suitcase wheels echoed through the hallway, marking the rhythm

compiled everything - the late-night messages, intimate photos blatant lies

affair. Then posted it where

was leaving, they wouldn't get to rewrite this

one final text: "Happy birthday. Goodbye

formally end

never truly been his

belong.net stand-in

brushed aside

power down my phone, it exploded with